Illuminated license tag and signal for automobiles



Sept. 11, 1923. I 1,467,371

W. R. GARNER ILLUMINATED LICENSE TAG AND SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 13, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet-l A TTOR/VEXS Sept. 11, 1923.

W. R. GARNER ILLUMINATED LICENSE TAG AND SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 13. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

llllvlll 144 R: GA A ZQE WITNESSES By Q6 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. GARNER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-FOURTH '10 CLAUDE DAVIS, OF- WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ILLUMINATED LICENSE TAG AND SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed October 13, 1921.

To all wkom'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. GARNER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Erie, in the county of Erie and 6 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated License Tags and Signals for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile license tags and it consists in the constructions, combinations and mode of operation herein described and claimed.

One of the foremost objects of the invention is to provide a combined automobile license tag and rear end signal, the numerals and letters of the former being cut out so that a single lamp on the inside may be made to shine through both the openings and the signal lens.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rear end signal casing in which a perforated license tag ,and a color screen behind the perforations are replaceable upon expiration of the period for which the tag is issued.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the com modification wherein license tags are used on both sides of the color screen,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the casing in Fig. 2, showing how the lamp may be so placed that the wires lead from the rear instead of the top,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of the signal casing wherein the lamp is located at one side,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the casing in Fig. 6, the retaining bar for the tag and color screen being shown disconnected,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the metal blank from which the signal casing is formed,

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a further modification of the invention wherein license indicia of at least two States are produced on an endless band,

Serial No. 507,432.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 1o 1o of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the casing in Fig. 9,

Fig. 12 is a front elevationof a further modification wherein the signal casing is made large enough to accommodate the tags of at least two difi'erent'States,

Fig. 13 is a rear elevationof an automobile illustrating the license tag mounted in a recess, and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rear of a perforated tag showing how it is intended to be stamped with a mark in the nature of a seal.

The purpose of the invention is to provide'a license tag in which the numerals and other indicia are cut out of the tag, instead of being embossed thereon, a glass or other screen behind the tag, furnishin the desired color when the tag. is illuminate on the inside at night by a lamp which also furnishes the litght for a signal lens. The invention there ore constitutes a combined rear end signal and illuminated license tag for an automobile. Although the invention is primarily intended for use on automobiles,

obviously the same arrangement may be made use of'in other connections.

The form in Figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises a casing 1, with an incandescent lam 2 at the summit of the dome-shaped top. lamp furnishes light for the signal lens 3 and for the indicia in the license plate or ta% 4. I

' he lens .3 is constructed to extend out a considerable distance from the face of the casing 1. This enables the light to shine laterally as well as to the front, so that it may be seen by an observer at the sides.

This indicia. consists of numerals 5 and letters 6. Both are cut out ofthe tag so as to produce openings through which light from the lamp 2 passes upon being reflected by the inclined back 7 A screen '8 of glass, or other suitable material, is placed behind the tag 4. This screen will be of a color to correspond with the regulation embracing a predetermined period of time and area. For example, the color of the screen for the District of Columbia and for the year 1921 should be red.

Guide flanges 9 sn port the tag 4 and screen 8 in front of t e opening 10 of the casing 1. One end of the tag and screen abuts a closure flange 11. Both the tag and screen are held in placeby metallic angle pieces or clips 12 at the opposite end of the casing. These angle pieces are fitted over screw studs 13, and nuts 14 hold the angle pieces in place.

The lamp 2 is inserted in the socket 15 through an opening which the lens 3 closes. This lens may be hinged as shown in Fig. 1, and held closed by a latch at one side. Instead of fitting the lamp in a socket in the top of the casing, it may be fitted in a' socket in the rear wall, as shown in Fig. 5. The manner of mounting the lamp and lens is immaterial, since any arrangement may be carried out provided that the lamp assumes a proper position in respect tothe lens and also in respect to the reflector 7.

The form in Figures 6 and 7 differs from the arrangement in Figure 1 only in the disposition of thelens 3*. Here the lens is located at one side of the casing 1 instead of on top. In all cases, the signal lens will be colored, red being the usualcolor adopted. The reflector 7 is inclined horizontally in respect to the tag 4" and color screen8", and should be at such an angle as will reflect the greatest amount of light from the laiprp 2*.

ertical guides 9 hold the tag and color screen in'place. A retaining bar 16 has openings to fit over studs 17 so as to keep the tag and screen from jarring out at the f to and preventing the entrance of foreign su stances.

This bar is in the shape of an angle, the upper part covering the tag 4 and color screen 8, the front part bearing on the front of the tag to hold it in place.

The form in Figure 4, illustrates the use of a color screen 18 between similar tags 4 ,111 front and 8 in back. In this case the front tag is intended for the purpose of protection of the color screen and the rear tag backs up the color screen to keep it from warping should it happen to consist of celluloid. In its other respects, the invention herein disclosed is identical with that in Fig. 3. In all cases, the interior of the casing should either be enameled white or nickel-plated, so as to constitute a good reflector of light. 7

Figure -8 illustrates the form of the blank from which the casing 1 is bent. ous dotted lines indicate the places at which the metal is bent to form the various sides, flan s, etc., of the casing.

T is blank comprises the'main portion 1 which forms the back and reflector, wing portions 1 to form the ends, triangular pieces 1 and 1 to form the dome and strips 1 and 1 to form covers for the dome.

The form in Figures 9, 10 and 11, discloses an arrangement wherein the license The vari- The mode of operation of the arrangement in Figure 9 consists of changing the band 19 when the vehicle which carries the casing 1 enters a different State. For example,

the indicia visible in Fig. 9 constitutes a license tag for the District of Columbia. Suitable indicia for a license tag for the State of Maryland will be supplied on the remaining portion of the band. By shifting the 'band as described above, the Maryland tag will be brought behind the window 22.

The form in Figure 12 illustrates an ar-, rangement of the signal casing 1 whereby tags Rand 4 of different States are accom' modated at the same time. These tags are constructed on the sameplan as the tag 4 in Fig. 1. The screens behind the openings in these tags are of different colors, forexample, the screen behind the tag 4 is red and the screen behind the tag-4 is blue.

Light from the lamp 2 not only illumihates the signallens 3 but also the colored numerals and letters of the license tag. An I arrangement of flanges similar to that in Fig. 3, supports the license tag on the casing, and similar clips or angle pieces hold the tags in place.

Figure 13 illustrates one mode of application of the improved license tag. A recess 23 is formed in the back of the automobile A so as to impanel, the tag and indicator. Al-

though the device is shown at the rear of the automobile in this particular instance, obviously it may also be mounted on front. In this case, the signal lens will either be omitted or be of a color other than red.

Figure 14 illustrateshow a designating mark 24, in the nature of a seal, is intended to be imprinted in the metal on the back of the tag 4. This imprint is made at the issuing oflice and is intended to identify the tag as having been issued by the proper authority. The imprint may consist of the insignia D. C. 1921 and this maybe accompanied bythe initials of-the issuing officer. The counterfeitingof the license tag will be rendered moredifficult by adopting a distinctive style of imprint.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved illuminated license tag herein described and claimed is that-of a gener ed from a single cut blank and'bent to provide a plane front having an 0 ening, a dome adjacent to the opening, gui e flanges bent up from the plane of the opening and formed along three edges of the opening leaving an entrance side, sides closin the ends of the casing, a back portion-parallel to said front including a portion extending from side to side and inclined forwardly to the lowermost guide to constitute a reflector behind said opening, a lens in the dome, a lamp in the-dome furnishing light to both the lens and reflector, a perforated license plate and color screen adapted to be slid into said guides through said entrance side to cover said opening, and means including clips aflixed to one side of the casin to engage the free ends of said plate an screen to hold them in place.

2. A sign casing constructed from a single blank cut to provide the following elements;

a main portion to form a back and reflector, wing portions to form ends, and a pair of triangular pieces connected b a strip to form the front and back of a ome one of said pieces having a strip similar to the connecting strip to correspond thereto to form a cover for the dome, suitable portions of said blank being bent up to form flanges when assembling the sign casing.

3. A casing having a chamber with a downwardly sloping reflector forming a part of the casing and situated behind an open ing in the casing, a plurality of tags having license indicia cut therein, one mounted in the opening above the other and with different color screens tlierebehind, means holding the several tags and screens in place, and a single lamp in top of the casing furnishing light to all of said tags by virtue of the slope of the reflector.

WILLIAM R. GARNER. 

